Electric cable wat



(N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. I R. LAMB. ELECTRIC CABLE WAY.

No. 535,793. Patented Mar.'12,- 1 895.

' lNVENTOH sr M A T7'OHNEYS.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet R. LAMB.-

ELECTRIC CABLE WAY.

Noi 535,703. Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

INVENTQH WITNESSES:

A rromvf rs.

4 Sheets s h I MW R. LAMB. ELECTRIC CABLE WAY.

{No Model'.)

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. R LAMB ELECTRIC CABLE WAY.

Patented Mar, 12, 18 95.

INVENTOI? WITNESSES.

A TTQHNEYS.

:NITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

RICHARD LAMB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC CABLEWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,703, dated March 12, 1895. Application filed July 19, 1894. Serial No. 518,000. (No model.)

-is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in wh1ch- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved apparatus for handling logs by means of electricity as a motive power. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the locomotive without the gear covering. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section. Fig. 4. is a side elevation of the log-carrying trolley. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse section of the seat for the motorman and pocket for ballast. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing auxiliary apparatus adapted for hauling logs to the place of loading. Fig. 7 is a transverse section showing the application of the auxiliary hauling apparatus to the cable between supports. Fig. 8 is a detail View of clamps applied to the supporting cable for holding a strut; and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus applied to the propulsion of canal boats.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in all theviews.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective mechanism for conveying logs from the interior of a forest, for conveying other heavy bodies, for the propulsion of canal boats, and similar work.

My invention consists in supporting a car, carrying a motor, on a cable, and in providing means independent of the weight of the ap paratus for causing tractional friction be tween the car and hauling cable to haul the car on the supporting cable.

It also consists in the combination with the propelling trolley or locomotive, of a log-carrying trolley placed on the supporting cable and connected with the locomotive.

It also consists in the combination with the locomotive, of a counterweight or balance for trimming the locomotive so that it will maintain a practically vertical position.

It also further consists in the combination with the locomotive, of a seat for the motorman, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

My present invention embodies some of the features found in my application for Letters Patent of the United States, for a logging system, filed December 16, 1893, Serial No. 493,852, but I do not claimthese features except in so far as they enter into new combinations.

The bearing cable A, which supports the log carrying trolley and the locomotive, extends over brackets B, attached to trees or posts 0. The bracket B, in the present case, is formed of a T-iron bar a having the web I) cutaway at the lower end of the bracket, the body of thebar being bent at at angle of fortyfive degrees, and slotted to receive the spike c, which is driven into the post 0. To the upper surface of the T-iron bar, near its upper end, is attached an eye-plate (1.

Two braces D, each having a pointed hook e on one end and an eyef on the opposite end, are connected with the eye-plate d, and the hooked ends of the braces are driven into the tree or post 0. Near the mid-length of each brace is formed an enlargement g, and a chain it passes around the braces above the enlargement, and its ends are fastened together so that when the chain is twisted, the braces D will be drawn toward each other, and the hooked ends of the braces will be securely held in their places in the tree or post 0.

To the upper end of the T-iron bar a is attached a saddle E, for supporting the bearing cable A. The saddle E is provided with a recess for receiving the end of the bar a, and

another recess for receiving the heads of the bolts by which the saddle is secured to the T- iron bar. The saddle, and the bolts by which it is secured in place, are insulated electrically from the bar a, and are constructed to shed rain. The saddle E is made concave in a transverse direction and ,convex in a longitudinal direction, to adapt it for receiving the cable A.

To the lower part of the bar ais attached a horizontal bar 2', which is supported at its outer end by a brace j, attached thereto and extending upward to the bar a, to which itis secured. The bar 11 has at its free end a casting it, having a V-shaped notch Zfor receiving the'traotion cable F, which normally rests in a recess formed in the casting is, at the bottom of the notch. At the mouth of the V-shaped notch the casting is is provided with projections m, which extend inwardly toward each other and serve to prevent the traction cable from accidentally leaving its support.

The bearing cable A is clamped on the sad dle E by a clip 71., and upon the cable A is placed a trolley G, formed of the plates 0 0', connected by studs 19 19, upon which are placed the grooved wheels H, which ride upon the cable A. On a stud g which extends through the plates 0 0 is suspended a bar I, the said bar being provided at its upper end with a heavy arm 0" for receiving the stud q, the said arm 1' being secured to the bar I, by means of a U -bolt 4", which extends over, and embraces the said arm, with its ends extending downwardly through the flange at the upper end of the barI. The lower end of the arm 7 has a downwardly curved flange which extends beyond the sides of the bar I, and is curved downwardly to protect the joint between the arm and bar from rain and dust,

and between the arm r and the bar I, is placed suitable insulating material, and the ends of the U-shaped bolt r and the nuts thereon are insulated from the bar I.

The bar I, extends downwardly, and at a:

point opposite the traction cable-F, is bowed outwardly, and the lower end of the said bar is offset so that it hangs nearly in line with the cables A, F. electric motor J, of any approved construction, and the armature shaft 8 of the electric motor extends upwardly and is provided with point of application of the pulling or connecting rod h" directly under the cable A. The casting L is provided with a sleeve M, in which is journaled a shaft N. Upon the front or outer end of the shaft N is secured a worm wheel 0, which is engaged by the worm K, and upon the inner end of the said shaft is secured a sheave P, around which the cable F is wrapped. The sheave P is preferably elliptically grooved, and the worm wheel and worm are inclosed in a casing containing oil, so that the worm gearing is constantly and thoroughly lubricated, while at the same time dust is excluded.

To the lower end of the bar I, is attached a bracket to which supports the seat 1) for the motorman. The back. of the seat '2) is made hollow, as shown in Fig. 5, for the reception of the weight or ballast for counterbalancin g the motor J, and causing the bar I to hang vertically. An arm 10, secured to the lower end of the bar I, extends diagonally to the rear of the seat v, and from the said bar is To the bar I is secured an r suspended a weight 0., which may be moved back and forth to counterbalance the motor J.

The main parts of the motor J are preferably inclosed, and the armature shaft 8 of the said motor carries an inverted hollow cone 1), which extends over the journal box of the motor and is designed for excluding oil from the worm gear, and also rain and dust.

The seat 11 is supported at the front by connection with the bar I, and the back of the seat is sustained by a brace 0, attached to the seat back and to the bar I, near the bend therein, as shown. To the bar I, is attached a horizontal bar 61, which is curved outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. This bar serves as a guard to prevent the motor from accidentally striking a tree or the bracket in passingover the bracket, a vertical roller being suspended from the bar t', for engaging the said bar 02.

On the supporting cable A, a short distance from the locomotive, is placed a log-carrying trolley Q, similar in construction to the trolley G, having plates 0' 0 studs 19 p grooved wheels I l, and the bar I, extending downwardly and curved outwardly opposite the traction cable F. The lower end of the bar I is provided with a link for receiving the locking tackle block R, by means of which the log or other load is lifted and sustained. The trunnion r is electrically insulated from the bar I;

To the bar I, at or near its midlength, is attached a bar 6, having eyes on opposite ends for receiving the hooks f. The bar 6 is arranged to admit of its revolving on the end of the connector S which connects the locomotive with the log-carrying trolley. The connector S, in the present case, is formed of two bars g, h, connected together at the hook f, the bar 9 being attached at the opposite end to the bar I of the locomotive, near the upper end thereof, and the bar h being connected with the casting L opposite the sheave P. Instead of using the connecting bars g, h, I may dispense with the bar g and use only the bar h. The log-carrying trolley Q is furnished with a curved guard bar d like the bar d carried by the locomotive.

The motor of the locomotive is provided with a starting box and reversing switch T, both of which are of the usual construction.

The current which drives the'motor J arrives by the cable A, passes through the trolley and an insulated conductor to the motor, and returns by the bar I, sheave P, and traction cable F, which is preferably grounded. When the motor is in operation, the sheave P, by engagement with the cable F, winds up and at the same'time pays out the said cable, and draws along the log-carrying trolley Q, and the log supported by it.

When the log is at some distance from the cable A, I arrange an auxiliary cable U, for the purpose of conveying the log'tb the vicinity of the cable A. For this purpose I carry the auxiliary cable around a horizontal snatch block 1', to a second block at the post or tree 0, thence upward to a snatch block secured to the post or tree some distance above the cable A, thence to thelog to be drawn forward, as shown in Fig. 6. In this case the forward movement of the locomotive and log-carrying trolley carries the cable U forward and thus draws the log toward the cable A.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a method of doing the same thing at any point between the supports of the cable A, by employing a strut abutting against a tree or other solid object at one end, and embracing the cable at the other end.

In Fig. 9, I have shown the application of my improved system to the propulsion of canal boats. The cables A, F, are arranged along the side of the canal, and the locomotive is placed on. the cable A and made to engage the cable F, as in the other case. The logcarrying trolley is of course dispensed with, and a cable or tow line which leads from the locomotive to the boat, carries conductors to rheostats on the boats, the motors are reversed, and the boats proceed as before.

In lieu of carrying the conductors through the tow line, the resistance box and reversing switch may be carried by the locomotive, and the motorman may ride with the locomotive as in the case of the logging system.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a cable way, the combination of a supporting cable, a car supported on said cable, a motor carried by the car, a hauling cable anchored at both ends, and means independent of the weight of the apparatus for causing tractional friction between the car and the hauling cable to haul the car on the supporting cable, substantially as described.

2. In a cable way, the combination of a supporting cable, a car supported on and suspended from said cable, a motor carried by the car, a wheel revolved by the motor, a hauling cable anchored atits ends, and means independent of the weight of the apparatus for causing tractional friction between the 4. The combination with a traction cable,

of a supporting column, a cable supporting bracket attached to the column and furnished with a V-shaped notch and having projections extending inwardly ov er the V-shaped notch, substantially as shown and described.

5. In an electric cable way, the combina tion of a supporting cable forming one branch of the electric circuit, a" car supported and suspended from the said cable, an electric motor carriedby the car and insulated from the cable, a wheel revolved by the motor, a hauling cable anchored at its ends and engaged about the wheel, said hauling cable forming the other branch of the electric circuit, and means independent of the weight of the apparatus for causing tractional friction with the hauling cable to haul the car over the supporting cable, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a supporting cable, a suspended locomotive, a traction cable, engaged by the locomotive, an auxiliary cable,

and snatch blocks for changing the direction of the auxiliary cable, substantially as speci- 7. In an electric cable way, the combination of a cable, a car supported and suspended from the cable, a motor carried by the car, a wheel operated by the motor, a hauling cable anchored at its ends and engaged about the wheel, means independent of the weight of the apparatus for causing tractional friction with the hauling cable to haul the motor on the supporting cable, and a tow line connected with the car and attached to a boat, said tow line carrying electrical conductors, substantially as described.

8. In a cable way, the combination of a cable, a car supported and suspended'from the said cable, a motor carried by the car, a sheave revolved by the motor, and a hauling cable passed one or more times around the sheave and having its ends anchored, substant-ially as described.

RICHARD LAMB.

Witnesses:

J NO. M. BITTER, F. W. HANAFORD. 

